1963 Alpine M63

Jean-Charles Rédélé, 1963 Alpine M63, Le Mans Classic 2016, Plateau 4.

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Apline, Dieppe, France.  This was the first sports racing car developed by Alpine. Designed in 1962 it competed from 1963 to 1965.   It had a 1 litre Renault Gordini T55 engine, chassis designed by Boyer and Bouleau, suspension designed by Len Terry and a plastic berlinette body designed by Marcel Hubert.  In 1963 it won its class at the Nurburgring.  In 1964 it won its class at Le Mans and won the Index of Thermal Efficiency.  A beautiful and successful little car.  

1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso

Eric Hamoniau, Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, Tour Auto 2016

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Ferrari, Maranello, Italy.  Lusso means luxury in Italian and thus the 250 GT Lusso is a larger and more luxurious version of the Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta.   It was not intended for racing but still some examples competed in the Tour de France (one finished 24th in 1964) and theTarga Florio (another finished 13th in 1964) in private hands.  It had a 0-60mph time of around 8 seconds and a top speed of around 150 mph.   Designed by Pininfarina, it had two seats, a steel Scaglietti body with some aluminium panels, and was powered by the 3 litre V12 engine similar to other 250s. Production was limited to 1963 and 1964.  A really beautiful car of which about 350 were made.

1963 Abarth-Simca 1300 GT

The Teisserenc's Abarth-Simca 1300 GT, Tour Auto 2016

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Abarth, Turin, Italy. The Abarth-Simca 1300 GT was produced from 1962 to 1965.  It was based on a Simca 1000 after Simca went to Abarth to get a faster version of their basic car.  With the new Abarth aerodynamic aluminium body, based on the Bialberobore,  it is difficult to see any resemblance to the original Simca.  The engine was a new straight four1300cc dry sump twin cam unit designed by Abarth..  Disc brakes were standard.  It was of course rear engine rear wheel drive.  It was capable of over 140mph and could do 0-60 in about 6 seconds!   A very desirable small sports coupé in terms both of looks and performance.  Not surprisingly they were very successful on the race circuit, apparently scoring 90 victories in 1963 alone. They race with their boots open to help cool the engine.

Heron Europa

Heron Europa, Montlhery 2015

Heron, Greenwich, England.  A small British manufacturer from 1962 to 1964.  Only 12 of these Europa were built.  They had 1 litre Ford Anglia engines or the larger 1.5 litre Ford engine.  It had a stteel backbone chassis and plywood floorpan with a GRP body.  As a kit car they cost £580 in the early sixties.

1964 Zagato "Zimp" Prototype

Zagato "Zimp" Prototype - RetroMobile 2016.

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Zagato, Milan, Italy.  This Zagato Prototype is based on the Hillman Imp chassis.  It was produced for the 1964 London Motor Show.  Only 3 were built.   The bodywork was aluminium. It has a standard lightweight Hillman Imp 875cc motor which was developed from the Coventry Climax engine. It is known as the Zimp. Top speed was about 140kph/87mph.  Chrysler vetoed turning the prototype into reality as it would have been expensive compared to cars like the Mini Cooper or Sunbeam Stilletto.  Nevertheless, a great looking car.